Tours - Namibia Impressions

Day 1 Windhoek

Upon arrival at the Windhoek (Hosea Kutako) International Airport you will be welcomed by our representative who will present you with your travel vouchers and assist you with the collection of your rental vehicle. Continue to the capital city, Windhoek. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure in Windhoek to view the historical landmarks of this cosmopolitan city or to do any last minute shopping for your tour. Windhoek is often described as a city with a "continental" atmosphere due to its architecture (historical buildings dating back to the German colonial rule), cuisine, culture, dress and educational institutions. Windhoek portrays the colour, sounds and tempo of a modern African city with its displays of African drums and woodcarvings on the pavements, which contrast with the elegant shops offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones. Sidewalk cafes offering Namibian style breakfasts (Fruhschoppen), which can be enjoyed with a glass of sparkling wine or locally brewed draught beer. In addition to steak houses and coffee bars serving snacks, the city has a wide range of a la carte restaurants offering German, French, Taiwanese, Portuguese, Italian, African and Chinese cuisine. Overnight accommodation will be at the Pension Moni on a bed and breakfast basis only.

Day 2 Solitaire

Departure from Windhoek on route towards the southern Namib Region. Today's journey continues over the "Kupferberg Mountain Pass" before crossing the "Khomas Hochland Highland Region" on route towards the small farming community of Nauchas. From Nauchas descend the escarpment via the "Spreetshoogte Mountain Pass". This is one of Namibia' s highest and most spectacular mountain passes and provides exceptional views over the central Namib Desert. Continue from the small settlement of Solitaire in a southerly direction towards the Sesriem entrance to the Namib Naukluft Park and the Desert Homestead. This route runs parallel to the Namib Naukluft Park for most of the way except for a short corridor, which joins the plains of the Namib Desert to the Naukluft Mountain Range. This serves as a migratory corridor for the Oryx Antelope which migrate between their summer and winter feeding grounds. Late afternoon arrival at the Desert Homestead Your overnight accommodation will be at the Desert Homestead on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis only.

Day 3 Namib Desert

This morning participate in an optional guided excursion into the Namib Desert to the Namib "Sand Sea" and the Sossusvlei Dune belt. Sossusvlei is a word from Nama descent, which directly translated means a place with many endings. Many visitors to Namibia say that no part of the desert is more stunning than Sossusvlei, with its monumentally high dunes, the shadows of their sinuous crests continually changing as the day waxes and wanes. Gigantic star-shaped mountains of sand, the highest estimated at 325 metres. The warm tints of the sand, ranging from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, contrast vividly with the dazzling white surfaces of the deflationary clay pans at some of their bases. Your overnight accommodation will be at the Desert Homestead on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis only.

Day 4 Swakopmund

After breakfast travel towards the coastal town of Swakopmund, travelling via Solitaire. From Solitaire continue travelling in a northerly direction running adjacent to the Namib Naukluft Park. This route crosses the gravel plains of the Namib Desert through the spectacular Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons before crossing the Namib Desert on route to the commercial harbour town of Walvis Bay. From Walvis Bay continue north between the coast and the dune belt to the coastal resort town of Swakopmund. Swakopmund is considered as Namibia's premier coastal resort and is a popular destination with Namibian as a welcome respite from the heat of the interior. The town is also noted for its Old World charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule it served as the territory's main harbor for years. Today this quaint town nestled between desert and ocean is enhanced by lush green lawns, palm trees and carefully tended gardens. There is a good selection of restaurants and coffee shops selling traditional German cakes and pastries, while the coastline and the desert respectively offer many options for adventure or relaxation. Your overnight accommodation will be at the Sea Breeze Guesthouse on a bed and breakfast basis only.

Day 5 Swakopmund

Today can be spent at leisure exploring Namibia's premier coastal resort or the Namib Desert and coastal region. Optional excursion can also be included into the Namib Naukluft Park to view and experience the ancient "Welwitschia mirabilis" plants, the "Lichen Fields" found on the gravel plains and the erosional feature of the "Moon Landscape" in the Swakop River bed. An optional excursion may also be included to the harbor town of Walvis Bay to visit the lagoon or to participate in a Dolphin Cruise excursion. This excursion departs from the Walvis Bay Yacht Club in the morning. Your skipper will lead you through the commercial vessels docked at Walvis Bay harbor, Namibia's largest port, while clearing harbor port control. Passing the small craft harbor the central basin of the harbor is exited heading north, visiting Bird Island and providing spectacular scenes of the desert dune landscape enhanced by the contrast between the ocean and the dunes. Highlights of the excursion include close encounters with Cape Fur Seals and bow riding Dolphins while crossing the harbor mouth to Pelican Point. While drifting past seal colonies fresh oysters and sparkling wine can be enjoyed. Return to the Walvis Bay Yacht Club via the lagoon and flamingo colonies. If you are interested in the ocean, marine mammals or aquatic birds this would be the ideal opportunity to experience the Atlantic Ocean. Fresh Oysters, Sparkling wine, soft drinks and light snacks are served on board. Your overnight accommodation will be at the Sea Breeze Guesthouse on a bed and breakfast basis only.

Day 6 Twyfelfontein

Early morning departure from Swakopmund in a northerly direction on route through the National West Coast Recreational Area towards the small fishing town of Henties Bay. An optional excursion which can be included on route today includes a visit to the Cape Fur Seal Colony at Cape Cross. In 1486, the first European to set foot on the coast of Namibia, Diego Cao, erected a cross in honor of John 1 of Portugal at a site now known as Cape Cross 115 km north of Swakopmund. In addition to being of historical interest, Cape Cross has a breeding colony of Cape Fur seals. Shortly after Henties Bay continue in an easterly direction and crossing the "Gravel Plains" towards the abandoned mining town of Uis. The large-scale mining of tin began in Uis during 1951 but due to the mine no longer being profitable in was closed down in 1990. From Uis continue in a northerly direction towards the Damaraland Region. This route passes Namibia's highest Mountain Range. The Brandberg is 2573 metres at its highest point and renowned for the famous work of bushmen art, "the White Lady". Late afternoon arrival at the Twyfelfontein Country Lodge for overnight accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis only.

Day 7 Twyfelfontein

While in the Twyfelfontein area optional excursions can be enjoyed - a visit to the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings, one of the richest areas of rock engravings and Bushmen paintings in Namibia, and the geological formations of the "Burnt Mountain" and the dolomite columns known as the "Organ Pipes". Overnight accommodation will be at the Twyfelfontein Country Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis only.

Day 8 Etosha

Departure in an easterly direction on route towards the Etosha Region. Today's route passes the small towns of Khorixas and Outjo. An optional excursion on route can be taken to the Petrified Forest, with approximately 50 examples of petrified trees dating back some 260 million years. The small farming center of Outjo has its origins as a hunting and trading center and was first inhabited by the early European explorer Tom Lambert in 1880. An optional excursion on route includes a visit to the Vingerklip or "Rock Finger" formation in the Ugab River Valley located approximately 20 km from the main road. This limestone skittle was formed approximately 30 million years ago by water erosion. From Outjo continue in a northerly direction towards the Etosha National Park. Entrance to the Etosha National Park is via the Andersson / Ombika Gate. Late afternoon arrival at the Okaukuejo Rest Camp. The rest of the afternoon can be spent game viewing. This evening can be spend game viewing at the floodlit waterhole. Your overnight accommodation at the Okaukuejo Rest Camp is on a bed and breakfast basis only.

Day 9 , 10 Etosha

Enjoy a full day game drive through the Etosha National Park as you traverse along the southern boundary of Etosha Pan towards the eastern Namutoni Region. Note that each reservations office has an "animal sightings" book. Refer to this book as a guide before departing on your drives, this will assist you in locating the most recent sightings of game. The Etosha National Park has over 114 mammal species, 350 bird species and 21 vegetation types. The most common plains game species encountered include: Plain's Zebra, Springbok, Black-Faced Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Oryx, Giraffe and Red Hartebeest. The Etosha National Park also boasts healthy populations of Lion, Elephant and Black Rhino. Each camp in the park has a restaurant, a shop and a filling station. Purchase a map of the park to familiarize yourself with the waterholes in your area, as this is where you will be most likely to encounter the game. Your overnight accommodation at the Halali / Namutoni Rest Camps on a bed and breakfast basis only.

Day 11 Okonjima

After a leisurely breakfast departure from the Namutoni Rest Camp joining the main route heading in a southerly direction towards the mining town of Tsumeb. Thanks to the wealth generated by the mines, Tsumeb is an attractive town boasting some fine old colonial buildings and a palm lined central park with spreading lawns. It is also the last stop before passing the "redline" which leads across the country from west to east and separates the southern commercial farms from the communally owned lands in the north.

An optional excursion on route can be included to the Sinkhole Lake Otjikoto. The first Europeans to encounter this lake were Francis Galton and Charles Andersson in 1851 and even to today this lake still has an uncanny mystery attached to it. Departing from Tsumeb continue in a southerly direction towards the towns of Otavi and Otjiwarongo.

An optional excursion that you have on route is to visit the largest known meteorite at Hoba located near the town of Grootfontein. This town forms one of the trio towns of the maize triangle with agriculture on predominantly white owned farms. Apart from the usual livestock farming of cattle, sheep and goats, the farms in this region produce most of Namibia's maize, sorghum, cotton, peanuts and sunflowers. The second town of the maize triangle is Otavi. This is a very inconspicuous town but was an important copper mining town in its day and was also the scene of many feuds between the Ovambo's, Hereros and Bushmen.

Continue south towards the town of Otjiwarongo which provides a convenient stop over on route to the north or the south of the country. As with most towns in central Namibia the name Otjiwarongo originates from the Herero language, which translated means "place of the fat cattle" or "beautiful place". Given the central role that cattle play in the Herero culture, both meanings are appropriate. The town was officially founded in 1906 upon the arrival of the narrow gauge railway linking the important mining center of Tsumeb and the coastal town of Swakopmund. From Otjiwarongo continue south along the main route towards the Okonjima Guestfarm.

The Okonjima Guestfarm (translated from the Herero language as "place of the baboons") is situated on the Omboroko Mountains. Afternoon activities include an introduction to work conducted by the AfriCat Foundation. This unique programme will enable you to learn more about Namibia's most beautiful cats and is also renowned for the excellent opportunities for viewing and photographing both leopard and cheetah. An evening activity to the local viewing hide provides the ideal opportunity to view some of the more elusive Namibian nocturnal mammals. Morning activities while at Okonjima will commence with a light breakfast served at the Lion Lapa before continuing on a guided nature walk. This walk is an interpretive introduction into the lives of the "Bushmen" and provides explanations and examples on fire making, hunting skills and the manufacturing of rope and ornaments. Overnight accommodation will be at the Okonjima Main Camp on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis only, including 1 activity.

Day 12 Windhoek

After a late breakfast depart for Windhoek via the small town of Okahandja. This is one of Namibia's oldest established settlements and is the administrative center of the Herero-speaking people. Numerous of the former Herero leaders are buried here and an annual procession through the town to the Herero graves commemorates those who died during the wars against the Nama's and Germans. Optional excursions on route include a visit to the open - air wood carving center and the Herero Graves Continue to the Windhoek International Airport for your scheduled departure flight. Please note that check-in times for departures is two hours prior to the flight departure time.

Priced from :

NAD 10 277 per person sharing for accommodation

NAD 9 300 car hire, for mid-range vehicle

What is included

All meals and accommodation as per the itinerary

Scheduled activities and excursions as described in the itinerary

Government bed levies

Not Included

Any items of a personal nature

Additional meals and beverages

Gratuities and porterage

Optional extra excursions and activities